Planning Porto to SDC September

[Sofia-Richmond]

Hi,

My husband and I are planning this September from Porto to SDC and we have some questions;
1. We are starting from Matosinhos to Vila do Conde on our first day, however, based on our researched and Brierly that from Vila do Conde to either Arcos or Rates both have no way marked. Is this correct? Which one do you prefer?
2. Will September be crowded?
3. We need a phone data plan that can work in Portugal and Spain, any that you can recommend and where can I get it in Porto?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[nonami]

Hi,

My husband and I are planning this September from Porto to SDC and we have some questions;
1. We are starting from Matosinhos to Vila do Conde on our first day, however, based on our researched and Brierly that from Vila do Conde to either Arcos or Rates both have no way marked. Is this correct? Which one do you prefer?
2. Will September be crowded?
3. We need a phone data plan that can work in Portugal and Spain, any that you can recommend and where can I get it in Porto?

Many thanks in advance.

I can only provide an answer for number 2: We walked on the coastal walk in September to Caminhas and then joined the interior route at Valenca. Hardly any peregrinos on the Coastal part - 5 or 6 in albergues with up to 30 or so beds.
When we hit the interior route it was much busier. We did reach the interior on a Friday and it was quite busy. The main albergue at Redondela was full at around 2pm. Pontevedra filled up at about the same time. My guess it was due to peregrinos beginning Camino at Tui or Valenca on the weekend.Probably would not have been as busy mid week. Non major stop towns (Valga, Teo etc) had plenty of space.
For what it is worth it was good to do some coastal and some interior - a lot of variety.

 

[Walli Walker]

We did this Camino in June last year. The route is described in Brierley's 2015 guide and well marked from Vila do Conde to Arcos & Rates. A lovely Camino.

 

[Sofia-Richmond]

Thanks nonami and walli. I got some answers from this thread too https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/starting-porto-1-2nd-sept.37863/

I have the Brierly 2016 and that the waymarks has been removed and to just follow the guidebook.

 

[nc6000]

1. We are starting from Matosinhos to Vila do Conde on our first day, however, based on our researched and Brierly that from Vila do Conde to either Arcos or Rates both have no way marked. Is this correct? Which one do you prefer?

I walked via Rates last month and there were enough arrows to get me there without issue.

The only problem I found with the section to Rates was that some of it involved walking on the road and there was quite a lot of traffic on the morning I walked it. Maybe it was just the time of day with people going to work and school etc but the rest of the stage was fine.

 

[Sofia-Richmond]

Thanks John

 

[amancio]

Hi,

My husband and I are planning this September from Porto to SDC and we have some questions;
1. We are starting from Matosinhos to Vila do Conde on our first day, however, based on our researched and Brierly that from Vila do Conde to either Arcos or Rates both have no way marked. Is this correct? Which one do you prefer?
2. Will September be crowded?
3. We need a phone data plan that can work in Portugal and Spain, any that you can recommend and where can I get it in Porto?

Many thanks in advance.

in my experience, insted of starting in Matosinhos, it is worth it to walk the delicious promenade down river Douro to the Atlantic, and then up the coast to Vila do Conde, where you can go along by the coast, or turn to Rates, as you see fit. There is a camping site in Algueiras, they offer good prices to pilgrims, plus they have a swimming pool to cool down or relax your aching muscles.

IT is a lovely walk!

as to the phone card, I think you will need two different cards, but there is, nonetheless, plenty of places with WIFI along the way, you might be able to survive without one.

Buen camino!